The Timeless Call of the Bhagavad Gita

The Gita is like the bottomless sea, the source of a myriad gems. One may spend a whole lifetime fathoming its depths and still not touch the bottom or gauge how deep it is. One may search for a hundred years and still find it difficult to gather even a hundredth part of the riches contained in this endless store of gems. And yet, if one can recover one or two of these gems, the poor man may become rich, the deep thinker acquire wisdom, the hater of God become a devotee, the mighty and powerful hero of action come back to his field of work fully equipped and ready for achieving his life’s purpose.

-Sri Aurobindo

The Bhagavad Gita, a cornerstone of Sanatana Dharma, is not merely a scripture but a guide to liberate humanity from inertia, confusion, and moral weakness. It is a transformative dialogue between Bhagavan Krishna and Arjuna, set on the battlefield of Kurukshetra at a moment of existential crisis. This conversation, profound in its wisdom and stirring in its call to action, holds lessons not just for Arjuna but for all of humanity, particularly in these challenging times when the followers of Sanatana Dharma face relentless adversities.

The Battlefield Within

At the heart of the Gita is Arjuna, a celebrated warrior and a symbol of heroic virtues. He had fought many battles and emerged victorious, yet at this critical juncture, he was overcome by despondency and doubt. Standing on the brink of war, he abandoned his resolve, overwhelmed by moral dilemmas and emotional turmoil. His reluctance to fight stemmed from a mistaken sense of righteousness — a confusion between compassion and weakness, between duty and attachment.

Arjuna’s state is not unique to him. It mirrors the inner conflicts that plague humanity, especially when confronted with difficult decisions and challenges. Today, much like Arjuna, the followers of Sanatana Dharma are gripped by similar doubts, wavering between their ideals and the overpowering currents of modernity and hostility.

Krishna’s Stern Compassion

When Arjuna poured out his heart to Krishna, expecting perhaps solace or validation, Krishna did something extraordinary. He didn’t immediately counter Arjuna’s arguments or provide comfort. Instead, Krishna allowed Arjuna to fully express his confusion and sorrow. Only after Arjuna laid bare his turmoil did Krishna respond — not with soothing platitudes but with stern exhortation and constructive reproach.

Krishna’s words in the two verses — kutastva kashmalam idam and klaibyam ma sma gamah — cut through Arjuna’s despondency with razor-sharp clarity. He reminded Arjuna of his dharma as a warrior and the ignoble nature of his current state.

कुतस्त्वा कश्मलमिदं विषमे समुपस्थितम्।
अनार्यजुष्टमस्वर्ग्यमकीर्तिकरमर्जुन ॥

kutastvā kaśmalamidaṁ viṣame samupasthitam,
anāryajuṣṭamasvargyamakīrtikaramarjuna.

“Whence has come to thee this dejection, this stain and darkness of the soul in the hour of difficulty and peril, O Arjuna? This is not the way cherished by the Aryan man; this mood came not from heaven nor can it lead to heaven, and on earth it is the forfeiting of glory.”

क्लैब्यं मा स्म गमः पार्थ नैतत्त्वय्युपपद्यते।
क्षुद्रं हृदयदौर्बल्यं त्यक्त्वोत्तिष्ठ परन्तप॥

klaibyaṁ mā sma gamaḥ pārtha naitattvayyupapadyate,
kṣudraṁ hṛdayadaurbalyaṁ tyaktvottiṣṭha paraṁtapa.

“Fall not from the virility of the fighter and the hero, O Partha! it is not fitting in thee. Shake off this paltry faintheartedness and arise, O scourge of thine enemy!”

Krishna’s words pierced through Arjuna’s delusions, awakening him to his true nature and purpose. These powerful verses are a call not just to Arjuna but to anyone who has forgotten their inner strength and responsibility.

From Confusion to Clarity

Arjuna, moved by Krishna’s forceful yet compassionate words, admitted his confusion and surrendered himself to Krishna’s guidance. His earlier defiance — na yotsye (I shall not fight) — transformed into resolute submission: karishye vachanam tava (I will execute your command).

This transformation was not merely about obeying Krishna; it was a rediscovery of Arjuna’s identity as a warrior and his role in upholding dharma. It was the restoration of his inner clarity and conviction, enabling him to confront the challenges before him with heroic spirit.

The Relevance of the Gita Today

The dialogue between Krishna and Arjuna is not confined to the battlefield of Kurukshetra. It is a timeless conversation, resonating across ages and contexts. Today, humanity — especially the followers of Sanatana Dharma — finds itself in a Kurukshetra of its own.

The modern world, with its relentless pressures of materialism, cultural dilution, and asuric forces intent on undermining dharma, has left many in a state of confusion and moral paralysis. Just as Arjuna faltered before the battle, many today hesitate to take a stand for their values and heritage.

The need of the hour is a return to the ‘spirit of the Gita’, a call to awaken the heroic spirit that lies dormant within. Like Arjuna, we must confront our inner and outer challenges with courage, clarity, and commitment to dharma.

A Call for Heroic Unity

For Sanatana Dharma to thrive in the face of adversity, its followers must embody the qualities Krishna inspired in Arjuna: clarity of purpose, courage in action, and unwavering adherence to dharma. This requires not just individual transformation but collective resolve.

1. Awakening the Heroic Spirit
The first step is to shed the inertia of tamas — indifference, fear, and hesitation — and awaken the heroic spirit within. This demands a deep understanding of our dharma and the courage to stand by it, even in the face of hostility or hardship.

2. Grounded in Dharma
Just as Krishna reminded Arjuna of his dharma as a kshatriya, we too must root ourselves in the eternal principles of Sanatana Dharma. This involves not just intellectual understanding but living these principles in our daily lives, demonstrating them through our actions and decisions.

3. Unity in Diversity
The asuric forces attacking Sanatana Dharma thrive on division and disunity. To counter this, the followers of dharma must rise above petty differences and stand united. This unity is not about uniformity but about recognizing our shared heritage and working collectively for its preservation.

4. Education and Awareness
Ignorance is a key weapon of those who seek to destroy dharma. To counter this, there must be a concerted effort to educate ourselves and others about the wisdom and relevance of our traditions. This includes a revival of the teachings of texts like the Bhagavad Gita, which can inspire and guide generations.

5. Leadership with Vision
Just as Arjuna found his guide in Krishna, today’s world needs leaders who can inspire confidence and provide clarity. These leaders must combine wisdom with action, embodying the principles of dharma in their vision and conduct.

Mokshada Ekadashi: A Day of Liberation

It is significant that the Gita’s teachings were delivered on the auspicious day of ‘Mokshada Ekadashi’, a day celebrated for its power to bestow liberation. The liberation Krishna granted Arjuna was not just spiritual but also practical — a freedom from confusion and despair, enabling him to act with purpose and strength.

This auspicious day of Mokshada Ekadashi must remind us of the urgent need to liberate ourselves from the inertia and divisions that hold us back. The teachings of the Gita must not remain confined to reverential reading; they must be lived and applied to the challenges of our times.

Becoming the Arjuna of Our Times

The Bhagavad Gita is more than a scripture; it is a mantra for action, a call to rise above weakness and confusion, and a guide to living heroically in accordance with dharma.

Just as Krishna awakened Arjuna to his true self and purpose, we too must awaken to our responsibilities and potential. The world today is in dire need of individuals and communities who can stand firm in the face of adversity, guided by the timeless wisdom of dharma.

In the words of Krishna we must hear a living call to action, a call to rise, to shake off our faintheartedness, and confront the challenges before us with clarity, courage, and commitment. This is imperative for upholding the principles of Sanatana Dharma and contributing to the betterment of humanity as a whole.

The message of the Gita is eternal. It is for us now to heed its call and become the Arjunas of our times — heroes who stand unwavering in the face of adversity, guided by the light of dharma and inspired by the divine whisper of Krishna.

OM namo bhagavate vaasudevaaya

-Sampadananda Mishra